The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, which took to the skies for the first time at the Nashik facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday, is a very capable platform, assured HAL chief test pilot (fixed wing) Group Captain K.K. Venugopal (Retd).
Group Captain Venugopal, who piloted the Tejas Mk1A sortie, was quoted as saying that the 4.5-generation fighter jet is a unique aircraft with all the new-generation technology.
"The radar is new generation, the avionics is very capable, the Astra missile is integrated. We will also be adding standoff weapons," NDTV quoted him as saying, adding that all these make the fighter jet a very capable platform.
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Group Captain Venugopal hopes that, as the MiG-21 has been phased out, the IAF will have close to 220 Tejas fighter jets in the future and that this will become the mainstay of the force.
Speaking about the capabilities of Tejas, HAL Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sunil said, "In terms of the kind of electronics, avionics that the Tejas has, it is a 4.5 generation aircraft. It has got a very capable Azer radar, EW suite, missiles and so on. It is a very advanced aircraft."
Further, he said several countries have shown interest in the aircraft, although discussions are in the preliminary stages. "We are discussing, and today it's at a very preliminary stage. Still, the kind of interest shown is very heartening because they feel it is a very capable aircraft. We are also showcasing to them what our capabilities are, what additions we can make" he added.
